A Message from Archbishop Lori

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As the first Catholic diocese in the Nation, the Archdiocese of Baltimore possesses a rich history of leadership that is ours to treasure and to preserve for our children and for future generations of Catholics. It was here in our archdiocese where leaders such as Archbishop John Carroll, Cardinal James Gibbons, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton established the foundation of our Church and her mission of service. Heeding God's Word and the example of Jesus, the early church sought to serve the needs of Catholics, the poor and the common good of all.

More than 200 years later, each of us has an opportunity to lead the Church in this new era for our Church here in Maryland, an era that will help us continue our good works and allow us to be a beacon of hope for others. By joining together in support of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's capital campaign, Embracing Our Mission ~ Shaping Our Future, we can help ensure that our archdiocese will continue to sustain and enhance our parishes and schools, Catholic Charities, and reinvigorate efforts to increase priestly vocations and to care for those priests who have done so much for our Church and our families through the years. Through God’s grace and the generosity of so many in our Archdiocese, we have reached our preliminary goal of $100 million and many parishes have not yet completed their campaigns. For this reason, we are extending the goal to $130 million, knowing that we will be able to advance the Church’s mission even further and serve many more of our sisters and brothers because of the unprecedented support for this campaign thus far.

I ask you to pray about this opportunity and for the responsibility each of us has to be responsible stewards of this Church which has given so much to us and to our families. With your support we can ensure the continued success of the Embracing Our Mission ~ Shaping Our Future capital campaign, and continue the long and storied history of service that is the foundation of this great Archdiocese of Baltimore!